diff --git a/transport-helper.c b/transport-helper.c
index 143ca008c8..7213fa0d32 100644
--- a/transport-helper.c
+++ b/transport-helper.c
@@ -1105,6 +1105,7 @@ static struct ref *get_refs_list(struct transport *transport, int for_push,
 }
 
 static struct transport_vtable vtable = {
+	0,
 	set_helper_option,
 	get_refs_list,
 	fetch,
diff --git a/transport-internal.h b/transport-internal.h
index 1cde6258a7..004bee5e36 100644
--- a/transport-internal.h
+++ b/transport-internal.h
@@ -6,6 +6,12 @@ struct transport;
 struct argv_array;
 
 struct transport_vtable {
+	/**
+	 * This transport supports the fetch() function being called
+	 * without get_refs_list() first being called.
+	 */
+	unsigned fetch_without_list : 1;
+
 	/**
 	 * Returns 0 if successful, positive if the option is not
 	 * recognized or is inapplicable, and negative if the option
diff --git a/transport.c b/transport.c
index 4329cca8e5..ea72fff6a6 100644
--- a/transport.c
+++ b/transport.c
@@ -733,6 +733,7 @@ static int disconnect_git(struct transport *transport)
 }
 
 static struct transport_vtable taken_over_vtable = {
+	1,
 	NULL,
 	get_refs_via_connect,
 	fetch_refs_via_pack,
@@ -882,6 +883,7 @@ void transport_check_allowed(const char *type)
 }
 
 static struct transport_vtable bundle_vtable = {
+	0,
 	NULL,
 	get_refs_from_bundle,
 	fetch_refs_from_bundle,
@@ -891,6 +893,7 @@ static struct transport_vtable bundle_vtable = {
 };
 
 static struct transport_vtable builtin_smart_vtable = {
+	1,
 	NULL,
 	get_refs_via_connect,
 	fetch_refs_via_pack,
@@ -1254,6 +1257,15 @@ int transport_fetch_refs(struct transport *transport, struct ref *refs)
 	struct ref **heads = NULL;
 	struct ref *rm;
 
+	if (!transport->vtable->fetch_without_list)
+		/*
+		 * Some transports (e.g. the built-in bundle transport and the
+		 * transport helper interface) do not work when fetching is
+		 * done immediately after transport creation. List the remote
+		 * refs anyway (if not already listed) as a workaround.
+		 */
+		transport_get_remote_refs(transport, NULL);
+
 	for (rm = refs; rm; rm = rm->next) {
 		nr_refs++;
 		if (rm->peer_ref &&